CCG and council appoint 'first of its kind' joint chief

Rob Walsh has been appointed joint chief executive of North East Lincolnshire CCG and council in a move to combine workforces and resources.

Mr Walsh will take up the role from 1 August.

Peter Melton will remain as clinical chief officer at the CCG and will be the statutory accountable officer.

The organisations, which will both retain their statutory responsibilities, said the decision was taken “in the face of increasing demand and decreasing funding”.

Mark Webb, chair of North East Lincolnshire CCG’s governing body, said the CCG had a “history of taking bold decisions”.

He said: “It is clear to us the challenges facing the public sector across the health and care environment are significant and require us to think differently about how we respond to growing service demand within shrinking resource.

“We are determined to shape a positive way forward.”

Describing the appointment as one of the first of its kind in the country, Mr Webb said a joint chief executive would allow better planning, with both organisations combining staff and resources.

Unlike other CCGs, North East Lincolnshire has commissioned health and adult social care services since it was established.

The NHS and local authority have a history of collaboration on adult social care, public health and children’s services predating stretching back to 2007 and North East Lincolnshire’s Care Trust Plus.

CCG members currently form a partnership board with representatives from North East Lincolnshire Council, the Council of Members and the Community Forum.

Its governing body meets just twice a year to make final strategic decisions.

Although both organisations will retain their governance structures and statutory responsibilities, the plan is for some functions to be delegated to a “union board” under an enhancement of an existing section 75 agreement. This board will be made up of an equal number of CCG representatives and elected members.

Mr Webb added: “It is a significant challenge but we are confident that [Mr Walsh] has the skills and attributes to work across the two organisations and the ability to create the right environment for these new arrangements to thrive.”

Ray Oxby, leader of the council, said: “The council recognised many years ago that meaningful partnership with the CCG was the way to break down organisational boundaries and reorganise services around the community and their needs.

“Coming even closer together gives us the opportunity to maximise the value and impact of our combined resources and allow us to have a joint strategy to secure the best interventions for economic, community and wellbeing benefit.”